Die shoe assemblies configured for shimless adjustment

Abstract

Various designs of die shoe assemblies are provided, each assembly configured to adjust vertical positioning of a die platform within the assembly, in order to correspondingly adjust vertical positioning of a die used with the assembly. The assemblies address limitations often associated with conventional die shoes designed to be used with shims. The assemblies use various methods and corresponding mechanisms to make the adjustment a time efficient process, while in so doing also enabling the desired extent of adjustment to be effectively and accurately provided.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A die shoe assembly, the assembly comprising:
 a guide plate, a base, and one or more die platforms; 
 the guide plate defining a quantity of apertures therein and the base defining a quantity of recesses therein, the quantity of apertures and the quantity of recesses each corresponding to quantity of the one or more die platforms, the guide plate adjoined atop the base with the apertures and the recesses being aligned and sized to correspondingly receive the one or more die platforms, the one or more die platforms adjustably coupled within the corresponding recesses and selectively adjustable vertically relative to the base and the guide plate; 
 wherein the one or more die platforms are sized to support dies correspondingly received within the apertures, at least one of the die platforms being selectively adjustable via use of a mechanism, the mechanism configured to adjust the at least one die platform via a single action, whereby the single action results in a corresponding adjustment in vertical position of the at least one die platform relative to the base and the guide plate as well as a corresponding adjustment in vertical position of a die when supported by the at least one die platform; and 
 wherein the at least one die platform is defined with a plurality of indentations about an outer periphery thereof; and 
 further comprising a plurality of plungers received in a corresponding plurality of through-holes extending into the aperture or the recess corresponding to the at least one die platform, such that the plungers can protrude into a corresponding plurality of the indentations to maintain position of the at least one die platform. 
 
     
     
       2. The assembly of  claim 1  wherein the guide plate defines two apertures and the base defines two recesses, the two apertures respectively paired and aligning with the two recesses for receiving a corresponding two die platforms. 
     
     
       3. The assembly of  claim 2  wherein the two apertures, the two recesses, and the two die platforms are in an inner and outer configuration relative to mounting type of the die shoe assembly. 
     
     
       4. The assembly of  claim 1  wherein the mechanism is a handheld tool that is independent from the die shoe assembly, the mechanism being directly engageable with the at least one die platform for adjustment thereof. 
     
     
       5. The assembly of  claim 4  wherein the at least one die platform is defined with a central cavity within which an end of the tool is engageable for adjustment of the at least one die platform. 
     
     
       6. The assembly of  claim 5  wherein the central cavity is defined with one or more notches to mate with a corresponding one or more fins protruding from the engaging end of the tool. 
     
     
       7. The assembly of  claim 1  wherein the single action is a twisting of the tool, with the corresponding adjustment by the at least one die platform being a rotation within the corresponding at least one recess and the plurality of plungers moving between the indentations, wherein each shift of the plungers from one of the indentations to a neighboring of the indentations represents a quantifiable iteration of adjustment in vertical position of the at least one die platform relative to the base and the guide plate. 
     
     
       8. The assembly of  claim 7  wherein the quantifiable iteration of adjustment is signaled via a clicking sound, from contact with and subsequent passing over a raised portion between the neighboring indentations. 
     
     
       9. The assembly of  claim 7  wherein the quantifiable iteration of adjustment is signaled via force opposing the twisting of the tool, from contact with and subsequent passing over a raised portion between the neighboring indentations. 
     
     
       10. The assembly of  claim 1  wherein the mechanism is a feedthrough fastener integrated within the die shoe assembly, the mechanism being indirectly linked with the at least one die platform for adjustment thereof. 
     
     
       11. The assembly of  claim 10  wherein the fastener is indirectly linked with the at least one die platform via a gear assembly, the gear assembly having interconnected gears, a first gear operably linked to the fastener and a second gear operably linked to the at least one die platform. 
     
     
       12. The assembly of  claim 10  wherein the fastener is indirectly linked with the at least one die platform via a belt. 
     
     
       13. The assembly of  claim 10  wherein the single action is a twisting of the fastener, with the corresponding adjustment by the at least one die platform being a rotation within a corresponding at least one of the recesses, wherein each complete rotation of the fastener represents a quantifiable iteration of adjustment in vertical position of the at least one die platform relative to the base and the guide plate. 
     
     
       14. The die shoe assembly of  claim 1  wherein the at least one die platform has an outer threading adapted to mate with an inner threading defining a corresponding one of the recesses of the base, the at least one die platform when adjusted being correspondingly raised or lowered within the inner threading. 
     
     
       15. The assembly of  claim 14  wherein the single action is a twisting of the mechanism, with the corresponding adjustment by the at least one die platform being a rotation within the inner threading. 
     
     
       16. A die shoe assembly, the assembly comprising:
 a guide plate, a base, and one or more die platforms; 
 the guide plate defining a quantity of apertures therein and the base defining a quantity of recesses therein, the quantity of apertures and the quantity of recesses each corresponding to quantity of the one or more die platforms, the guide plate adjoined atop the base with the apertures and the recesses being aligned and sized to correspondingly receive the one or more die platforms, the one or more die platforms adjustably coupled within the corresponding recesses and selectively adjustable vertically relative to the base and the guide plate; 
 wherein the one or more die platforms are sized to support dies correspondingly received within the apertures, at least one of the die platforms being selectively adjustable via use of a mechanism, wherein a defined extent of adjustment of the mechanism represents a quantifiable iteration of adjustment in vertical position of the at least one die platform relative to the base and the guide plate as well as a corresponding adjustment in vertical position of a die when supported by the at least one die platform 
 wherein the at least one die platform is defined with a plurality of indentations about an outer periphery thereof; and 
 further comprising a plurality of plungers received in a corresponding plurality of through-holes extending into the aperture or the recess corresponding to the at least one die platform, such that the plungers can protrude into a corresponding plurality of the indentations to maintain position of the at least one die platform. 
 
     
     
       17. The assembly of  claim 16  wherein the at least one die platform has an outer threading adapted to mate with an inner threading defining a corresponding at least one of the recesses of the base, wherein the mechanism is adjustably rotatable, whereby the mechanism being rotated results in a corresponding rotation of the at least one die platform within the inner threading, wherein a defined extent of rotation of the mechanism represents a quantifiable iteration of adjustment in vertical position of the at least one die platform relative to the inner threading. 
     
     
       18. The assembly of  claim 16  wherein the mechanism is a handheld tool that is independent from the die shoe assembly, the mechanism being directly engageable with the at least one die platform for adjustment thereof. 
     
     
       19. The assembly of  claim 16  wherein the mechanism is a feedthrough fastener integrated within the die shoe assembly, the mechanism being indirectly linked with the at least one die platform for adjustment thereof. 
     
     
       20. A method of adjusting vertical position of a die, the method comprising steps of:
 providing a die shoe assembly comprising a guide plate, a base, and one or more die platforms, the guide plate defining a quantity of apertures therein and the base defining a quantity of recesses therein, the quantity of apertures and the quantity of recesses each corresponding to quantity of the one or more die platforms, the guide plate adjoined atop the base with the apertures and the recesses being aligned and sized to correspondingly receive the one or more die platforms, the one or more die platforms adjustably coupled within corresponding of the recesses and sized to support dies correspondingly received within the apertures; 
 selectively adjusting a mechanism engaged to at least one of the die platforms to correspondingly adjust the at least one die platform to a warranted vertical position relative to the base and the guide plate; 
 wherein the at least one die platform is defined with a plurality of indentations about an outer periphery thereof; and 
 further comprising a plurality of plungers received in a corresponding plurality of through-holes extending into the aperture or the recess corresponding to the at least one die platform, such that the plungers can protrude into a corresponding plurality of the indentations to maintain position of the at least one die platform. 
 
     
     
       21. The method of  claim 20  wherein the mechanism is adjusted to a defined extent of adjustment which represents a quantifiable iteration of adjustment in vertical position of the at least one die platform relative to the base and the guide plate as well as a corresponding adjustment in vertical position of a die when supported by the at least one die platform. 
     
     
       22. The method of  claim 20  wherein the mechanism is rotatably adjustable, whereby the mechanism being rotated results in a corresponding rotation of the at least one die platform within the inner threading, wherein a defined extent of rotation of the mechanism represents a quantifiable iteration of adjustment in vertical position of the at least one die platform relative to the inner threading. 
     
     
       23. The method of  claim 20 , wherein the adjustment is performable with a die on the at least one platform.